Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Montreux Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Montreux

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,058 in Montreux, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,760 in Montreux, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $7,462 in Montreux, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 68% cheaper than Montreux, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Montreux is 203% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$30.25 CHF 23.85

-61.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$149 CHF 118

-72.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$18.89 CHF 14.90

-43.67%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$6.02 CHF 4.74

-41.53%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.12

$5.59 CHF 4.41

-72.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$4.75 CHF 3.74

-79.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$9.61 CHF 7.58

-69.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$8.67 CHF 6.84

-48.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$2.23 CHF 1.76

-38.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$3.80 CHF 3.00

-50.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$4.41 CHF 3.48

-62.81%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$7.04 CHF 5.55

-64.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$29.06 CHF 22.91

-71.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$28.44 CHF 22.42

-70.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$43.85 CHF 34.57

-75.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$4.01 CHF 3.16

-35.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$2.16 CHF 1.70

-32.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$2.89 CHF 2.28

-34.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$6.40 CHF 5.05

-67.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$3.17 CHF 2.50

-43.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$2.43 CHF 1.91

-9.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$2.52 CHF 1.99

-58.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$1.57 CHF 1.24

-31.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$10.89 CHF 8.59

-62.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$14.17 CHF 11.17

-27.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$2.03 CHF 1.60

-15.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$3.04 CHF 2.39

-15.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$4.03 CHF 3.18

-87.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$89.5 CHF 70.6

-70.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$8.08 CHF 6.37

-59.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$4.12 CHF 3.25

-39.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$66.7 CHF 52.6

-95.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$2.26 CHF 1.78

-42.04%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$39.8K CHF 31.4K

-23.97%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$42.0K CHF 33.1K

-44.15%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,433

$308 CHF 243

-73.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$384

$50.1 CHF 39.46

-55.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$58.1 CHF 45.81

-49.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$80.5 CHF 63.4

-35.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$36.99 CHF 29.16

-50.47%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$22.58 CHF 17.81

-77.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,473

$2,617 CHF 2,064

-92.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$33.8K CHF 26.7K

-84.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$109 CHF 86.0

-66.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$68.6 CHF 54.1

-41.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$176 CHF 139

-55.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$184 CHF 145

-52.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$2,177 CHF 1,717

-55.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$2,006 CHF 1,582

-76.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$3,327 CHF 2,623

-50.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$2,749 CHF 2,167

-55.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$16.7K CHF 13.2K

-76.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$8,808 CHF 6,944

-26.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$8,425 CHF 6,642

-92.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

2.5

356.80%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Montreux: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,177 in Montreux. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1169% higher in Montreux, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $149 in Montreux. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $632 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Playa del Carmen vs Montreux: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Montreux is pricier by about 213%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $6,088 in Montreux. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,617 in Montreux. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 154% more in Montreux, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Montreux at $4,058. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreux it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreux makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.